Saint Petersburg: four days in the fantastic residences of Tzar.. A journey in Russia

We booked the trip through a travel agency in the area, choosing a solution Franco Rosso.

Unfortunately, given the goal and the paperwork, we could opt for a DIY trip, as we do normally, but we decided to lean on Francorosso to facilitate a little 'things.

However, the booking process was also problematic. The prices quoted in the catalog are not the least respected as the prices of scheduled flight, constantly changing, all contact with the central reservation Franco Rosso. Needless to say that change for the worse, growing more and continuously, as is delayed with the confirmation of booking

Example: The travel agent we drew up a budget. We thought one day. The travel agent reminded to confirm Franco Rosso e.. surprise surprise: the prices soared and the flights were changed (with schedules and calls inevitably worse).

Well ... after 1000 and 1000 incazzature adventures, we can book a package Franco Rosso as follows: Scheduled flight with a stopover in Zurich, Swiss Air in return + 3 nights in a hotel in central St. Petersburg + transfer from the airport by private car, and 2 excursions (Pushkin and Peterhof).

Package price, including practice for the visa: € 900.00 per person (there seems little for only 3 nights).

 

Departure and arrival in Saint Petersburg

Party that is still night. We arrive at PARKING where we booked a parking space and, very efficient, accompany us to Malpensa. The SWISS AIR provides a stopover in Zurich. The first flight is precise and accurate. We arrive in Zurich, even in advance. Unfortunately, the flight to S. Petersburg part with 1 hour delay. Moreover, the airport of Zurich, focuses all its glory in the shops but, in terms of essential services, such as toilet seats and is somewhat lacking.

On the plane we provide the form to be completed to be submitted with the passport. We arrive in S. Petersburg 40 min. late and also, we can expect a long queue at passport control. Arrivals, we find our driver, hired by Franco Rosso, with a sign bearing our names. Actually, we struggle a little to find it, given the large number of people with folders. However, we find him and accompanies us in providing the first tourist hotel in simple plain English. We understand now that our hotel, Nevsky Grand, yet in superb central location (street of Nevsky Grand, between the Hermitage and the Church of Spilled Blood) is not much. E 'classified as 3 stars but not worth more than 2. Perhaps the third was attributed only to the central location.
Our room, fortunately, is right in front of the reception (so we had no problems when, inevitably, the elevator was broken), but now we are disturbed by a terrible smell of paint or other solvent as they have just done the work in the next room and so we are forced to keep the window open (including night, though it was cold). That day, the weather in S. Petersburg, and then is covered, S. Petersburg, loses a lot with these weather conditions. Also, it's already 17 and here, all museums close at 17 (the maximum at 18). That first day, so we can not see anything and we are content to make a first round of exploration of the center and get in some souvenir shops. We realize now that prices, contrary to our expectations are higher than in Italy. Even the traditional Matryoshka have prohibitive prices. Not to mention the food. For dinner, we save a Subway (sandwich chain, found all over the world, where they make long rolls right before your eyes with ingredients listed by you). After dinner, since there are obviously tired woke up at 4 am. We realize, however, that here, in the month of June, there is light late into the night (the famous Russian White Nights), but we pull the curtains and sleep.

Puskin

At about 8:30 in the morning we head to breakfast. We are now in line to the why, the lousy hotel has a breakfast room small, too small compared to the number of rooms. In addition, the large group of elderly French present, somewhat rude, they stay at the tables to chat even when they have finished eating. Luckily, the waitress comes to the rescue and he chases them: old RINCO ....! The buffet is not anything special and then end everything ends the milk, ending the jam, even ending the cups ... and here do not replace anything.

In short, light breakfast and then go in search of our guide who will accompany us in the excursion booked. I find the reception: a young Russian woman about 30 years speaking perfect Italian. In front of the hotel there is also Russian, and so our driver, all 4 car, we move to the palaces of the czars. First stop is the Palace of Catherine I - The Great, Pushkin (Tsarkoe Selo or if you prefer). Pushkin is approximately 1 hour drive from St. Petersburg. The palace is full of tour groups, mostly cruises calling. The building exterior is a beautiful glance, all external light blue, almost turquoise (like the eyes of Catherine, says the guide). The interiors are richly decorated and impressive: the first rooms, all golden in the Baroque style and the latter more sober, in the Renaissance style. Obviously, for the most part, the project of Italian architects. Before entering into any building, we must wear the overshoes to avoid damaging the elaborate wooden floors. The rooms are beautiful, however, there were many furnishings. To visit this building, but all the buildings to follow, we must put at the foot of "booties" (model pool) to avoid damaging the beautiful wood floors. All these buildings were very much "abused" during the Second World War. The restorations are still very recent: 1980/1990 and not all the furniture has been rescued. We also do a walk in the park, where they are scattered here and there, where there are other pavilions and fountains and lakes. The guide explains every detail of fine salt, but without getting bored or linger longer than necessary. We understand now, though, that does not like wasting time, and then quick stop to the bathroom and quick passage in the shops of the building.
Soon after we moved by car to Pavlovsk, the residence of Paul, son of Catherine II. This building is different from the previous year. The rooms they visit and all lots are full of furniture and furnishings. Maybe it's less grandeur but previous to us, like the most. Natalia guide explains everything well and then takes us for a walk in the park along the river side of the building.
Then go to St. Petersburg. It 's still relatively early on: it is 15.30. Quickly eat a crepe with ham and cheese kiosk in front of the hotel because, our zealous guide, does not like wasting time and, in addition to not go to the bathroom, there has not even hinted at a lunch break (and it seemed rude to us ask.) We pay with rubles with dollars that have changed in one of the numerous exchange offices / Western Union right next to our hotel and on the Nevsky Prospekt (the main street of St. Petersburg, with many shops and restaurants) Warning: this is the most valuable advice of this story: bring many dollars and go straight to a bureau de change in rubles. In fact, here, almost no one accepts credit cards (only one level of shops and almost no restaurant) and do not accept dollars (only bancarellai take any currency). Especially if you want to eat fast food in the snack bar, you are absolutely the ruble. Warning: foreign exchange offices close at 20 - max 20.30 (and do not open before 9 am). Then, for a change, you have to rely on cash machines / ATMs, with instruction in Russian, where, however, does not understand anything. After our fast cracks, we go to visit the beautiful Church of the Spilled Blood. This is a beautiful Russian-style church with a facade decorated throughout and colorful, bordered by a picturesque canal. The ticket, as with all churches, it is rather expensive: 320 rubles, that is $ 10, that is 7 € (here you can also pay by credit card). Inside, the church is completely covered with beautiful blue mosaic, depicting the main episodes of the gospel.
At the exit, following the advice he gave us the guidance Natalia, before leaving, do a boat trip taking one of their boats on the canal in front of the Church on Spilled Blood. On the boat there are both indoor and places to discover. Given the nice day, sit outside. Walk along the canals by boat is smaller than the Neva River sailing around the island with the fortress of Peter and Paul. The boat is wonderful experience, an unforgettable memory of the trip: the weather is beautiful, it's hot (we have short-sleeved shirts) and the ride is long (1 hour) and provides us with a complete view of the city coming in points, where we do not reach on foot. In fact, given the central potion of our hotel, we do not need to serve the metro or other public transportation. We can easily reach the main places of tourist attractions on foot.
For dinner, we risk not eat because we do not have enough rubles and exchange offices are already closed. We can not dine economically from Subway or some other Self Service / Fast Food. Do we have to go to an Italian restaurant / Russo on Newskij (near Subway and the Montblanc shop. I tell you this only to make you avoid) that says to accept payment in dollars. It is certainly not a fancy restaurant but was a tavern in style. After all, we just want a simple steak. After a long wait (as if they were preparing knows that) our two steaks arrive. Let's see the menu that the prices are pretty high but the biggest surprise, we arrive at the checkout, when the hateful waitress requires a change from usury (25 rubles for a dollar, instead of the traditional 30). Score: 2 steaks, 1 1 mineral water and beer: $ 90 (you read that right):

After that shock we go to sleep. But before we call home, as every night, taking into account the time zone 2 hours (2 hours ahead of Saint Petersburg to 'Italy). To call, all other difficulties the Russian mobile phone to avoid the high costs (which takes very well) we have brought from Italy a phone card New Columbus from 12 € (Telecom. with 3 phone calls and do not spend hardly any surplus most of the credit). These cards are prepaid and costs, from abroad, are really low. But be careful: do not ever use it with your mobile phone as your operator will charge the additional costs (I use the phone only for SMS). Use it instead from the hotel, usually from your hotel room, but here, you can not, you must call from the reception desk and talk like that in front of employees and all persons who were passing by at that time. But the cost is reduced, the hotel asks only 10 rubles a phone call.

Peterhof

This morning we anticipate a little 'breakfast, and so the tail is there but is shorter. At the same junk food buffet in the morning before. Come quickly to change dollars into rubles and then the guide and driver are already ahead of us. Let's start immediately once the palace of Peter the Great: Peterhof, overlooking the Gulf of Finland. This palace is located about 1 hour S. Petersburg, however, the road is more scenic and less traffic. Just admire the beautiful golden domes and high beam of the building. The interior is fantastic: a perfect mix between the two buildings visited yesterday. Here are beautifully furnished rooms but also full of furniture. The best, however, is yet to come, namely, visiting the beautiful gardens with numerous fountains, canals and fountains. You should know that Peter the Great ordered to build this building (again with the help of Italian architects, like all other buildings of yesterday) was inspired by Versailles. So, if you know of Versailles, you can get an idea of what Peterhof
We return to St. Petersburg for 13.30, he asked the guide Natalia, leaving in the morning with 30 minutes ahead of schedule set by Franco Rosso. The driver, please, leave us near the Hermitage, where we individually booked tickets on the Internet. Do not do it: you'll save by making them on site so there is not much tail. Do not do business for a period of 2 days (like us) because you just half a day. Upon entering the museum, having left their coats in the cloakroom (as a must in every building, also because it would otherwise just too hot) now go in search of the bathrooms (because with Natalia in the morning, we did not stop) and then we go immediately to the beautiful Hermitage cafeteria to eat something. You buy a sandwich, a kind of calzone with cheese and two desserts we choose among the many present. The break is nice to coffee tables, the average price / high as ever here. Then comes the visit the Hermitage. We are more interested in the Museum denonimata "Winter Palace" official residence of all the Tsars. Unfortunately, we understand now that the division between the "Winter Palace" and part of the Hermitage exhibition is not clear. However, we can tell you that drugs halls of the Winter Palace (Winter Palace) are on the second floor of the Hermitage (hence the middle floor). Do not waste time like us to look at the first or the third floor where there are only art galleries and other exhibitions, which we just interested in). The halls are really great. Our favorite room is the "Hall of the Hall" (all white and gold with a huge golden peacock-clock in the center). Tired, leave the palace and go back to the hotel to rest a bit. Fortunately, the smell of solvent is gone the second day (not in English without being complained at the reception). About the language: we can say that we managed to speaking in English. Not all Russians know it: the very young are most able to do so and in any case, almost all the shopkeepers or the staff at the ticket and we understand we can understand them well enough. For dinner, we again availability of rubles, and then we can safely return to us a paninone from Subway. After dinner we visit the shops in a shopping center on yellow Newskij but we do not find anything interesting. The souvenirs most beautiful and cheap, they are in a shop on the canal of the Church of Spilled Blood, immediately after the fast food with the insignia of Pepsi. Unfortunately, here only accept rubles.

The St. Isaac Cathedral and trip back home

We anticipate a little 'breakfast time, and this time, there is now an empty table. The buffet always the same things, indeed, are now also finished the jams! On the other hand I can find where to put my white coffee cup. Our driver will pick you up at 12 to take us to the airport. We, therefore, most of the morning to visit something. Then follow the advice of our guide Mondadori (always better) and Natalia, we decided to visit the Cathedral of St. Isaac. The walk to the Piazza S. Isaac is not very long and quite pleasant as it runs along a canal. The church and the cash (cash is written in Russian KACCA) opened at 9.30. The price for all the churches is always the same (320 rubles) and you can pay by credit card. The church is beautiful, fully painted, and every painting has elaborate gold borders. Unlike the Church on Spilled Blood, we are not in a church in the Russian style, but it is a European-style cathedral, complete with a cupola.
We return slowly to the hotel by a final step to our favorite souvenir shop to end the last thousand. At 11.30 to leave the room and outside, there is already waiting for our driver (the same) to take us to the airport "Pulkovo" in St. Petersburg. The airport is small so it is not difficult to navigate. The paperwork fast enough, even if the metal detector checks are scrupulous. Lunch at a local old-style American (burgers of course) its all ending, but all the rubles and obviously doing well not to stay within the accounts.

The return is correct and timely. Swiss Air plane, decent meals (better that way in the back) and there is the classic Swiss chocolates on arrival. In Zurich, the airport is fast and fluid, and arrive on time at Malpensa Parking where we telephone to request the shuttle.

In conclusion, we can say that the experience was definitely positive. For us fans of castles and ancient residences, S. Petersburg is a godsend. Moreover, we always found a wonderful time, beyond our expectations. We are tired, however, because in just four days we have tried to see as much as possible. Fortunately, the next day is Sunday and we can rest before returning to work Monday, with the usual routine.

COST

Franco Rosso Package includes:

Flight, 3 nights hotel in treatment B / b, transfer from airport to hotel and No. 2 excursions with private guide: Euro 1000.00 per head.

Excluded:

meals: About 700 rubles for lunch or dinner for two people - or Fast Food Bar ($ 23, € 16)

Entry Hermitage Churches (300/400 rubles per head amounted to 15.10 dollars per head)

Boat trip: 1 hour, 500 rubles.

Souvenir: Ex Matryoshka 5 pcs of 30/35 900/1000 rubles dollars - 20/25 €).

DANI AND MAX
For more information:
http://digilander.iol.it/danidisa